Gas-producer for propelling vehicles



APPLICATION FILED NOV-29,1918- 0. 1. SMITH.

GAS PRODUCER FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

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D. J. SMITH.

GAS PRODUCER FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.29,191a.

1,327,495. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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D. 1. SMITH. GAS PRODUCER'FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1918.

1,327,495. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- D. J. SMITH.

GAS PRODUCER FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

APPLICATIONHLEDINOV- 29. 191B.

'1 27,495 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET {1- I I i DAVID J. SMITH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND;

GAS-PRODUCER FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed November 29, 1918. Serial No. 264,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID JOSEPH SMITH, major in the Army Service Corps, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of 40 Woodberry Grove, Finsbury Park, London, N. 4, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Connected with Gas-Producers for Propelling Vehicles, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to gas producers and apparatus connected therewith for supplying internal combustion engines, the producer being either of the suction or ressure types, that is to say, of the kind in w ich the gas is drawn from the producer by the suction of the engine, or that in which the supply is assisted by pressure supplied by a fan or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a producer of relatively light weight, small size and high efficiency, adapted to supply gas to internal combustion engines used for driving motor vehicles, motor boats and the like. In the former particularly, the producer must be capable of adapting itself automatically to greatly varying loads, a condition for which gas producers have not hitherto been adapted successfully.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a construction of light, compact, and efiicient producer in which all the operations are mechanically efl'ected or me chanic-ally controlled both in proportion to the speed of the vehicle-propell1ng-engine which the producer supplies and to the demandof such engine for gas irrespective of speed, as for example when starting or on a rising gradient. A further object of the invention is to provide a new method or process of working which permits of the said high efliciency within a producer of the required small size and weight.

According to my invention I provide a method of and apparatus for effecting the foregoing objects in which all or practically all of the necessary operations are mechanically and positively effected or controlled, said mechanical operations in the producer being effected by the internal combustion engine propelling the vehicle to which the producer supplies gas, and by which a very small fire bed and small producer are possible.

- The said operations are effected or con trolled by a shaft preferably embodied with or upon the producer and driven by the engine supplied, the operations being (1; Fuel feed to producer.

(2 Ash removal from producer.

(3) Rocking grate or continuous agitation of fuel.

. (4) Water feed to feed heater and vapormen 5) Water feed to scrubber when a wet scrubber is used.

The fuel is fed to the producer mechanically and in direct ratio to the speed of the engine, or the producer can be further controlled by the throttle so that more fuel can be fed when a full gas supply is passing to en ine, irrespective of engine speed.

he supply of water to the vaporizer is also controlled by the speed of the engine or by the amount of gas passing. The water supply to the .scrubber is also mechanically controlled.

The producer is fitted with a rocking grate or fire bars, or like mechanism, which fire bars are operated by the engine in proportion to its speed or the volume of gas passing, and apparatus also operated from the engine removes the ashes from below the grate. Both in the supply of fuel and removal of ashes, due precautions are taken to prevent the unnecessary access of air or loss of s.

(is may be produced by the suction of the engine in the usual manner, or a fan or blower operated by the engine and controlled in proportion to the engine speed or amount of gas required, or both, may be used to drive air through the producer and insure a full charge of gas reaching the engine, or deliver the gas under pressure.

In order to give as large a burning sur-- face to the fuel as possible within the small space provided, and to prevent the fuel from becoming caked, especially by the vibration to which the generator may be subjected when fitted on a vehicle, I may place webs or fins across, or projectingfrom, the fire box ofthe generator to support the fuel and allow it to burn freely and give an easy passage for the steam and air to pass through the fuel.

The chief advantages obtained by this invention are (1) the reduction in size and weight of the producer in proportion to the volume of gas given off, (2) the rendering of all functions automatic after once starting, and making it possible for the producer to supply an engine with gas over a wide range ofspeed or volume, (3) generally to render the producer suitable for use on motor vehicles or boats, as set forth herein, (4) the provision of means to control relatively the proportion of supplies of air, water and fuel, such proportion'to be possible of variation as required, While the producer is in operation, (5) a producer capable of functioning so long as it is driven and supplied with fuel and water, (6) a flexible producer producing gas in proportion to the speed of the engine supplied or the demands made upon it, (7) automatic stoking and removal of ashes, thus preventing slowing or stopping of engine arlsing from production of poorer gas or stoppage of production, and (8) the ability to control the production of gas in anticipation of increased or decreased demands.

In order that my invention may be completely understood reference should be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrates the preferred mode of carrying it into effect Figure 1 is a schematic diagram or extended general arrangement of the complete apparatus or plant.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the producer part section to a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is an end view at right angles with Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the grate.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one fire bar of the grate and the shafts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing the fire-clay walls of the producer and the webs or fins.

Fig. 7 is a section of the said walls on the line A. A of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the front of a truck having this apparatus fitted.

Fig. 9 is a side View, more or less diagrammatic, illustrating the link connection between the valves of the engine and the boiler air pipe.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the shaft crank and pump connection; and

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken substantially on line 1l11 of Fig. 10.

As this invention consists of the several parts or elements constituting the complete producer plant or apparatus in combination, as Well as the special construction of producer or generator, which elements are the means by which the new method of operation is carried out, reference is first made to the general arrangement, Fig. 1.

1 is the producer, 2 the feed water heater and gas cooler, 3 the gas scrubber or cleanser. The shaft 1 is driven by the vehicle engine to which the producer supplies gas. The shaft 4 drives the rotary pump 5 which may be of any known construction. 5 supplies the water by the pipe 3 to the The pump scrubber 3 which scrubber serves 'to wash and cleanse the gas from the producer whence it is conveyed by the pipe 3* to the chamber 2 at the base of the feed water heater 2. The Water is then conveyed back from the chamber 2 by the pipe 2 to the pump 5 thus completing the circuit. The producer plant is mounted upon the chassis of a vehicle for the purpose of supplying gas to the engine propelling the vehicle, the pipe 2 is referably connected to the radiator, and t e water is returned from the radiator to the suction or inlet of the pump 5. With regard to the construction of the chamber 2, this is simply an extension of the tube 14 but provided with a water jacket concentrically surrounding it, which con- 'struction will be obvious to any one acquainted with the art. The chamber 2 is of known construction, and is a collecting chamber or sump for the water flowing from the chamber 3.

The gas scrubber or cleanser and cooler 3, which is shown in elevation. see, Fig. 1, forms the subject matter of another and concurrent application for patent, Serial No. 264,713, entitled Improvements in scrubloers, cleansersand coolers for gas.

It will be understood that any known feed water heater and 'cooler, and any known gas scrubber or cleanser may be used combined With the producer described herein, but that the apparatus described in the said specification are those it is preferred to employ with the producer.

The fuel used in my apparatus is preferably screened anthracite coal and this is the only fuel I have successfully employed in this producer.

In commencing to work the apparatus, the screwed airtight cover 13 is opened and a fire is laid on the fire bars 9. The fire having been lighted through aperture 13 the cover on thls aperture is closed, and a hand operated centrifu al fan 28, see Fig. 3, forces air by the plpe 14 into the ashpan 16 through an aperture capable of being closed by a cock 28*. When the fire is seen to be well alight, the cover 13 is closed and screwed down, and the cook 20 is opened, .the fan still being operated. The gas issuing from the cock is tested with a light, and as soon as it burns satisfactorily. cock 20 is closed, and the engine to which the plant is su plying gas is then started.

eferri-ng to Figs. 2, 3, l, and 5, the. shaft 4 also drives by means of a worm 6 and a. worm Wheel 6* a shaft 7 provided with cams 8, upon which cams rest the fire bars 9 by means of arms 9 projectingtherefrom. The fire bars 9 are each formed integrally as a segment of the circular grate. see Fig. 4:, there being as shown six such segments, and preferably four fire bars to each segment, see the section, Fig. 2. The fire bar segments together form a circle as shown and are 'provlded wlth an upwardly projecting portion or lip 9 see Fig. 5, adaptedto project within the inner wall of the producer. The bars are pivotally mounted and adapted to rock upon the fixed shaft 10. Each cam 8 is set at 60 degrees apart from the adjacent cam, so that. on the rotation of the shaft 7 the fire bars are rocked in succession and progressively from one side of the grate to the other, thus keeping the anthracite fuel within the producer in c0ntinuous movement.

At the opposite end of the cross-shaft 7 carrying the cams, a crank 12 is fitted. This crank is provided with a. crank pin 12 adjustable in a radial slot in the crank arm, so that the stroke can be adjusted from zero to its limit, as seen particularly in Fig. 10 where the crank 12 is shown as provided with a slot 35 receiving the headed inner end of a bolt forming the crank pin 12 as more plainly to be seen in Fig. 11. In Fig. 10 a link 12 is connected at one end to the crank pin 12 and at its opposite end to the upper end of a slotted lever ha'ving a fixed pivot. 37 'at its lower end and recelving in its slot 38 a bearing block to. which one end of the. rod .39 of the pump 12 is pivoted. The bearing block with the adjacent pivoted end of the pump rod 38 may be raised and lowered by means of a connecting link 40, depending from one arm of the bell crank lever 41, the opposite end of which is, in practice, connected to either a hand-lever or a foot-pedal, under the control of the operator of the machine. The force pump 12", just above mentioned, op-

erates to deliver Water into the boiler 14 of the producer via the water jacket of the feed heater 2. The water is conveyed by the pipe 12 to the said jacket and the water raised in temperature. by passing through said jacket having extracted heat from the ases flowing from the heater 2 is conveyed by the pipe 12 to the boiler. The crank pin 12 is so arranged that it can if necessary, be varied in its position in the crank'12 while the producer is working.

On the same end of the cross-shaft that carries the worm wheel 6 by which it is driven, is another crank arm 15. The pin 15 of the crank 15 is also adjustable as to its stroke as before described with reference to crank 12, the crank pin being adapted to slide radially in the crank arm and by this means the stroke of the crank pin is adjustable therein. This crank drives a worm couveyer 17 for conveying the fuel into the producer by means of the rod 17 mounted ulpon the said crank pin. The anthracite is fed from a hopper, not shown, fitted with an airtight lid secured above the conveyor 17. The screw conveyer is operated by the crank 15 by the rod 17 by means of the ratchet wheel 17. The crank 15 also operates by means of the rod 21, the ratchet wheel 19 and shaft 19, an ash discharge device 18 fitted to the bottom of the ashpan 16. The ash discharge consists of a cylin drical casing secured below the ashpan having a port 18" communicating with the ashpan 16 above. it and having a discharge opening 18 at the bottom of the cylinder. A hollow cylindrical plug 18 is rotated inside the cylinder 18 and when the hole in the plug registers with the hole in the body, the ashes from the pan drop into the plug. During the rotation of the plug the opening 18 therein, registers with the hole in the bot.- tom of the cylinder and the ashes are discharged in an airtight manner. By varying the stroke of the crank pin in crank 15 and also by varying the position of the connecting rods 21 and 17 a in the ratchet levers, it is possible to vary the speed or feed of the fuel to the generator and of the, ash discharge from the generator to any desired extent.

In operation after the starting previously described, air is drawn in by the suction of the engine through the pipe 14 in the boiler 14, a section of which is shown in Fig. 2, the air passes over the surface of the water contained in the boiler and becomes more or less saturated with Water vapor. The mixture of air and water vapor then passes down the tube 14 into the ashpan 16. The mixture then passes up through the fire bars through the fire in the producer andissues from port 14 and passes by the pipe 14 to the gas cooler and feed water heater 2, thence by the pipe 3 into the scrubber and cleanser 3, the cleansed and washed gases then pass by the pipe 3 to the engine.

The water that is supplied to the boiler 14 by the pump via the jacket of the feed heater 2 is kept at a certain level by means of the siphon 24 which carries off any Water above that quantity necessary to maintain the level in the boiler 14 to the desired height. The tubeswhich convey the water to and from the boiler 14 are fitted with their ends or openings as near the center of the boiler as ossible, so that the level of the water wil not be unduly'afi'ected by the generator or producer becoming tilted in any direction. The overflow of the water passes by means of a funnel 25 down the tube connected therewith and is there led into the annular channel 26 formed in the bottom plate of the ashpan. The annular channel 26 is filled with asbestos string or similar absorbent material, which soaks up the water and prevents its being lost when the generator or producer is tilted from its correct position, as would happen if the water was simply lying free in the channel. The heat from the fire-bars vaporizes this water and the vapor mingles with the said through the grate. Any surplus water which may pass from the boiler 14 overflows this channed and is got rid of with the ashes through the ash discharge 18'.

The rocklng bars keep the fire always free from ash and maintain it in a clean condition, so that it can deal at once with sudden calls for more gas. The bars being rocked in proportion to the speed of the engine maintain the fire in the necessary condition in accordance with the work being done. The water feed to the boiler 14 is also maintained in proportion to the speedof the shaft 4, and by varying the stroke of the crank pin in the crank arm 12, more or less water can be given so as to meet sudden conditions, such as ascending or descendin a long hill respectively.

The fuel feed by the worm conveyer 17 and the ash discharge are also driven at speeds proportionate to the speed of the shalft and therefore fuinction proportionate A throttle valve of the usual butterfly type is fitted to the air pipe or opening 14 in-the boiler 14, and this is coupled by a link 42 connected to the throttle valve of the engine as seen particularly in Fig 9 where the valve of the air pipe 14 is indicated at 43 and the throttle valve of the engine intake pipe 32 is indicated at 32, this latter valve 32 having an external arm 44 ,connected to one end .of a controlling rod 45 leading to a point within convenient control of the operator of the machine, and

which for these purposes may be connected also to the bell crank lever 41, before described, for simultaneous operation there with. This coupling is important and constitutes an element in the construction and method, as it will readily be seen that in order to meet sudden calls for more gas, itis necessary to partially close the pipe 14 as the throttle valve to the engine is opened. The result of this is that a slight vacuum is caused in the boiler 14. This makes use of the natural law that water boils at a lower temperature if pressure is reduced. The result of partially closing the pipe 14 therefore, is to cause the water in the boiler 14 to give off a mulch larger quantity of vapor and thus meet extra calls from the engine for gas, such as when the engine is working full power at slow speed. The throttle connected to the pipe 14 can be coupled with the throttle on the engine or Work independently if desired. Either or both of these throttles can be controlled by the engine governor if the producer is employed with a governed engine.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the fireclay 1' is fitted in known manner to the interior of the metal casing of the producer 1 which is otherwise of the same construction as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The webs or fins 30 of metal or other suitable material are fitted Within the fireclay walls and are secured to the casing. They project inwardly into the producer and are of triangular form in plan, Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 6, which illustrates the fins in front view as well as section, the projecting portion of the fin has obliquely inclined surfaces in order that the nuts of incandescent fuel contacting therewith may when agitated by the firebars be moved laterally.

, Referring to Fig. 8, which shows the complete apparatus as fitted to a truck, and con nected to the engine driving same, the producer 1 is mounted on one side of the engine 31 or of the bonnet inclosing the engine, and the feed water heater 2 and the scrubber and cleanser 3 are fitted on the other side of the engine. The shaft 4 is driven by the sprocket wheel 4 and chain 4 connected to the sprocket wheel 31* on the engine shaft. The producer as arranged is immediately in front of the driver and the whole plant is connected close to the engine with therefore relatively short lengths of connecting pipe. The pipe 3 is connected to the engine throttle valve tube 32. The radiator 33 is shown like the engine in dotted lines. The other reference numerals on this figure are as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and are described with relation thereto.

-In this generator it should be noted that the fire is of comparatively shallow height relatively to diameter. This puts less back pressure on the suction of the engine and tends to produce a clearer fire.

In producers as hitherto made, the action of the producer being generally governed by the suction of the engine alone and there being a large mass of fuel through which to draw thegas causes a loss of power on account of the considerable back pull upon the piston, there being at the end of the induction stroke so considerable a degree of vacuum in the cylinder of the engine that a full weight of working fluid is not admitted to the cylinder. In this construction there is at all times a small or relatively shallow body of fuel through which to draw the gas as by the means for agitating and feeding of fuel and the removal of ashes a very small body of fuel relatively to the size of the engine is in use at any time in the producer and therefore a reduced resistance to the passage of the gas, consequently there is much less negative pressure in the induction pipe and a much greater relative power of the engine is produced.

It will thus be seen that all functions of the producer are automatic, and that it will continue to work as long as the supply of water and fuel-lasts, and it is driven without attention. It is also capable of dealing with varying demands for gas at manna short notice, and owing to the condition in which the fire is kept by the rocking firebars and the automatic control of the water feed and the other described operations, a very small producer is necessary to give ofl a certain amount of power or gas.

It will be understood that the word vehicle is used in this specification in its broadest sense having regard to its derivation.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a vehicle having a combustion engine, of a gas producer carried by the vehicle for supplying combustible gas to said engine, including a combustion chamber for solid fuel, a grate therein including a series of movable grate bars, a shaft driven by the engine and extending through the ash pan, and a series of cams on said shaft engaging the said grate bars.

2. The combination with a vehicle having a combustion engine provided with a throttle, of a gas producer for supplying combustible gas to the engine, said producer being carried by the vehicle and having a boiler provided with an air space in communication with its water space and an air intake to the said air space, a connection between the said air space and the combustion chamber of the producer, anda controlling valve in the said air intake connected to the engine throttle, as described.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a combustion engine and a water cooling arrangement therefor including-a radiator, of a gas producer for supplying combustible gas to the engine, a gas cleaning and scrubbing device between the producer and engine, water circulating pipes connecting the cleaning and scrubbing device with the said engine radiator, and a circulating pump in said pipes.

4. The combination with a vehicle having a combustion engine provided with a throttle, of a gas producer carried by a vehicle for supplying combustion gas to said engine, including a solid fuel combustion chamber, a boiler in connection therewith, provided with a water space and an air space above the water space and having air intake, a connection between the air space of the boiler and the said combustion chamber, and means controlled by the vthrottle of the engine for regulating the effective area of the said air intake to the boiler.

DAVID J. SMITH. 

